Pew Sheet for May 2020

United Benefice of St Bartholomew

Lower Cam with Coaley

Dear Friends

It has been good to talk to many of you on the phone and also to see people supporting the Zoom services where you are able to access them.   We hope also that the printed services have been useful to you.   We plan to do a further Zoom service each Sunday at 10.00am.

There will also be an opportunity for you to join via your phone. The phone is 0131 460 1196, or 0203 051 2874 or o203 481 5237 or 0203 481 5240 and unique identifier is 744-4092-8863.

Most of all we hope that you are all keeping well and you are being supported.   If you need pastoral support do not hesitate to contact Sue or Peter on numbers or emails below. Our main concern is that you are managing ok and we would love to hear from you to!

Praying for each other
Church is being done differently and we need to adjust to an inclusive consideration of the whole fellowship including those hidden from sight, through self isolation or living alone.   If you would like to pray for two or three others it would be useful if you can let Peter know so that we can set up a buddy scheme for all to feel they have regular support.   This is confidential to you and those who prayer for unless you are given permission to share.

Please pray for Isobel, Chris Prout and Suzannah Glover and Marion as they mourn the loss of Gordon, Barbara and Peter.   We also pray for any others who are ill or experiencing difficulties.  Please let us know where you know of others.  Please let us know so we can pray for you.  Please pray for each other in the church fellowship. 

Other support

We have posted several things on the face book site for you with links to the Coaley website. We will carry on doing this.   Two of these are

An Easter Sunrise reflection based on Luke 24v1-12 https://www.facebook.com/stbartslowercam/videos/2309237726049374/

A pictorial reflection on the cross by Karola Onken and Chris Mason https://www.facebook.com/stbartslowercam/photos/pb.869831246367179.-2207520000../3569120873104856/?type=3&theater

Practical Needs

We can also refer you if you have other practical needs through the GL11 community support scheme, the GL11 number which will activate a community volunteer is 01453 548530.   In Coaley support is available through the Community Shop or Martin Gregg.

With our love and prayers

Peter and Sue

Some prayers for you

For the Corona virus outbreak

Keep us good Lord,

under the shadow of your mercy
in this time of uncertainty and distress.
Sustain and support the anxious and fearful, and lift up all who are bought low;
that we may rejoice in their comfort
knowing that nothing can separate us
from your love in Christ Jesus our Lord. Amen

God of compassion,
be close to those who are ill, afraid or in isolation.
In their loneliness, be their consolation;
in their anxiety, be their hope;
in their darkness, be their light;
through him who suffered alone on the cross,
but reigns with you in glory,
Jesus Christ our Lord.
Amen.

For those who are ill

Merciful God.
we entrust to your tender care
those who are ill or in pain,
knowing that whenever danger threatens
your everlasting arms
are there to hold them safe
Comfort and heal them,
and restore them to health and strength;
through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen

If you want another type of daily prayer use the Lectio 365 app http://www.24-7prayer.com › dailydevotional It gives you prayer in the form Pause (into the God’s presence)– Rejoice and reflect (a psalm with a reflection) Ask (a specific request to God) and Yield (putting ourselves in the hand of God).

A reflection for us
In one of St Peter’s letters, he encourages us to “Cast all your anxiety on [God} because He cares for you” I Peter 5v7, Even in the midst of terrible suffering and great need we can bring the simplest and most practical needs before God.

What anxieties do I have today- large or small? I often dismiss my own worries as trivial, and it is especially easy to do this at a time when many are suffering because of the Coronavirus pandemic. However I choose to trust that God is interested in me.

Lord I bring my anxieties and needs to you and thank you that there is nothing too great for Your power and nothing too small for Your love.                            taken from Lectio 365

A reflection for Sunday by Peter

End of the road or change of perspective. Reflection on  Luke 24v13-35

“What are you discussing while you walk along?”

“Ramblings” is a radio programme with Clare Balding. She chooses an unsuspecting celebrity, she invites to walk with her with a smartphone voice recorder in her pocket and charms them to talk about themselves. She realised that on a walk, with plenty to refresh the s9oul, people started to open up and share things that they didn’t normally share with anyone else. Gentle as Clare is they don’t realise how revealing they are and they just keep opening up!

What things?
Jesus uses the same device as he catches up Cleopas and His friend on the seven-mile trip back home from Jerusalem. Luke seems to have recorded their conversation on the road to Emmaus in about 3 AD! The question Jesus starts off with is “What are you discussing while you walk along?” They replied “You must be the only person who hasn’t heard these things” Jesus says “What things?”. They try to explain about the death of their Messiah, BUT In the end Jesus explains to them what is going on. He changes their perspective from loss and death (Messiah dies) to life (the prophets said He would rise again) - the Messiah, Jesus, will give you a future and a hope (Jer 17v9).

Jesus assures them He is risen and new life and hope is available!

Purpose
“What things?” is one of the most important questions we now have time to contemplate as a church fellowship and as an individual in our enforced lock down. What things were we doing? What things really are central to our purpose? What things worry us most? Will it be the same things that are important at the end of this pandemic? So many good things have come out of this pandemic in terms of our love and care for others, our ability to be who we are and not rush around, and the changing of our priorities to support those who give us life when the chips are down.

The things that matter are not our achievements, but the things that bring us life – life that is abundant and worth giving up other things for. Abundant life is life that cannot be overcome by pandemics or bad things happening to good people or disappointments in our earthly plans. It is life that practices constant acts of kindness towards others, life that allows us to make sacrifices and not weigh the cost. It includes non-judgemental forgiveness when others hurt us. Reconciliation with God is life transforming and gives us purpose and energy whatever the circumstances are around us and in all the uncertainty of this life. We glory in the resurrection of Jesus and are sure of our future with Him.

I hope that we are telling Jesus about what is happening in our lives, asking Him to come in through our locked doors and sharing the things that we know are really important in our lives. We can allow Him to demonstrate His love for us and through us, to tell others the good news just like Cleopas and his friend on the way to Emmaus.

Revd. Sue can be contacted on 01453 542547

or susangreatorex@btinternet.com

Revd. Peter Fewings can be contacted on 01453 546703 or 07795206590 and ptfewings@gmail.com

Please contact Sarah for admin etc at sarah.st.barts.cam.coaley@gmail.com 

or call 0787 296 8097